Short Circuit – The Name Says it All

Jignesh Vasavada 

2.5 Stars

A film on time, about time finally out before it went out of time.

I always knew that being a Radio Jockey has its privileges. But being a good Radio Jockey has its baggage. Everyone expects you to be everything and there lies a trap. Not too many have bitten the bullet, and yet a few have been ‘Short Circuited’.

Short Circuit is a good looking package which needed a strong shoulder.

But first few Observations:

1. Why can’t Government pass a rule saying all Heroes need to compulsorily wear a helmet. Not only the lead man but his side kick too travel without helmets, so much for safety campaigns.
2. Wonder where does one get Alcohol so easily? All Gujarati movies show freely available alcohol!
3. Check out the tie-knot. It keeps automatically loosening and tightening.
4. Why does a security guard always have to be hindi speaking, not to mention, a dumb fool.
5. Did she actually say it or I heard it wrong, Baking News (at the Dangee Dums outlet)? Hear it out.  
6. Just because you are the hero, you won’t even allow your friend to take his chance at the pool table?
7. So, the girl is a PhD in Quantum Physics, yet she asks about Northern Lights!
8. Artificial Intelligence has taken a leap for Gujarati! Wow Silicon Valleybhai, Ae Haaaalo J J
9. Here is a gun that vaporizes flesh, bones and everything yet cannot do the same to plastic glasses? Wow!
10. First ever research facility where lab assistants (in orange overalls) have guns and security has a stick!

 

Well, now comes the tricky part, reviewing the story without revealing it.

Samay (RJ Dhvanit), an engineer is caught in a time loop/time bounce. Events keep happening and he keeps bettering his action plan to counter the murder of his first-sight-love Seema (Kinjal Rajpriya). Assisting him in this endeavor is his funny friend Bhopo (Smit Pandya).

As sequence keeps repeating things begin to happen and the movie moves towards a definite but very prolonged end. Yes, the story is crisp, short and very pointed.  

Any further and I will spill the beans, so let me stick to evaluating the performances.

The film is and around RJ Dhvanit. Well, to be honest without being hurtful, he still needs to learn to act, run, eat namkeen, give different expressions, sleep in the right position and get the right angles. His body and body language needs a serious boost. There is a kind of monotony in his method that does not help build the story.

Kinjal Rajpriya does a good job. She looks fresh and very much in the role (though her Shuu Thayu beauty is missing). If Smit Pandya had carried the previous venture alone on his shoulders, this time he just does not get the space, time or enough dialogues. A little more and he would have filled a lot of gaps.

Utkarsh Mazumdar, the scientist looks and feels strained. A little younger talent would have helped the cause. A talking villain Jacob (Vikee Shah) stretches the end way too much. Music wise, Mehul Surti has managed to keep it non-interfering and helps keep the pace (whatever little it has). Cinematography rules here. Jeremy Reagan makes the entire experience pleasant.

The story, well, I will leave this part blank.

The marketing of Short Circuit may have gone overboard in promoting this as Gujarat’s First Sci-Fi film. For a fledgling industry like Dhollywood, it would be prudent if we rate original works as First or Second. Else, simply let the Box Office do the talking.  

Well, is it worth a watch? Why not? If you are a RJ Dhvanit fan, if you do not watch English movies, if you want to see something different, yes it is worth your quick time (it is a sharp 2 hr film). Only don’t get caught in the time loop beyond 12 midnight, because, one min late and the language would change.

Happy Viewing.

Pictures Courtesy: Short Circuit Promotional Material